Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Shadow and Bone

Knew some things about it from social media, wanted to read before watching the show, but only really heard about ‘Six of Crows’, but I really enjoyed this book. I felt there could have been more about Alina’s dynamics with people other than the Darkling, like more about her time with the other Grisha and her time in the army, but i did like how the author portrayed the Darkling and Alina’s relationship/dynamic.

I liked how the relationship was first portrayed as one where he had been searching for her for ages and so fell in love with her due to his longing for someone to help fix the Fold, but then when you find out more about him and realised ‘oh shit he played her, he SEDUCED her’ which was really really shit on his part, just to get her to trust him.

I also really loved Bahgara, just everything abiut her. How she was this mean and scary teacher who was the one person not pulled towards or enamoured by the Darkling, then you find out SHES HIS MOTHER!?!?! And everything just gets more sad cause she still loves him but knows he may be too far gone. But also wtf? Like we know barely anything about her? How’s she get her powers? How did she birth the most powerful Grisha minus the literal Sun Summoner? Was she just as powerful as him, but just chose not to show it? ANSWERS I NEED ANSWERS!!

I thought there could have been more about Mal, it was him who found the stag and he was so concerned about Alina, even thought he never got her letters. He’s so much better than the Darkling

Content Warnings

taylorswiftobsessed's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

perhappiness's review

Go to review page

adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

matthiasreads's review

Go to review page

medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Content Warnings

onefineelephant's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

7/10. I think the magic system and even the political system are interesting. However, I usually hate love triangles and this is no exception. I typically love the friends-to-lovers trope but Mal kind of sucks at the beginning. Like, who would sleep with a ton of girls when you're actually in love with your best friend the whole time?? I like Mal more by the end. Also, them confessing their feelings wasn't satisfying at all and fell kind of flat. I think that the character of the Darkling is super fascinating and complex, which I love. I am not a fan of Alina which is really unfortunate because she's the main character - but this is because she is TOO MUCH of a main character. She just wants to fit in when she clearly is unique, she is a peasant in high society, she only has one friend and doesn't get along with other girls (aka she's not like other girls), and she won't kill when it is absolutely necessary. The dialogue is kind of so bad that it's good. Like it's very bad but most of the time it made me laugh because of how bad it is instead of making me say "this is stupid." The ending was awful, in my opinion. I know there are more books in the series but the events of the last 50 pages made me say "what the f is this?" about 8 times.

Content Warnings